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COMSOL Multiphysics® 6.1 Release Highlights

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Pipe Flow Module Updates

For users of the Pipe Flow Module, COMSOL Multiphysics® version 6.1 introduces a new multiphysics coupling to account for the heat exchange through a pipe wall, new parameterized geometries in the Part Library, and enhancements for mechanical piping analyses. Learn more about these updates below.

Pipe Wall Heat Transfer

There is a new Pipe Wall Heat Transfer multiphysics coupling available for connecting:

  • Domains that are modeled using the Heat Transfer interfaces
  • Edges modeled using the Heat Transfer in Pipes interface or the Nonisothermal Pipe Flow interface

The existing Cooling of an Injection Mold and Ground Heat Recovery for Radiant Floor Heating models showcase this new feature.

The COMSOL Multiphysics UI showing the Model Builder with the Pipe Wall Heat Transfer node highlighted, the corresponding Settings window, and a mold cooling model in the Graphics window.
The temperature distribution in a cooling mold model.

Library of Pipe Geometries

In the part libraries, a number of parameterized geometries for pipes have been added: straight, bend, reducer, and t-junction. These geometries can, for example, be used for detailed analysis using the Fluid Flow or Structural Mechanics interfaces. Such 3D models can be directly connected to the Pipe Flow interface or Pipe Mechanics interface through the Pipe Connection or Structure-Pipe Connection multiphysics couplings.

A close-up view of the part libraries in COMSOL Multiphysics with the reducer part highlighted and the corresponding information.
The new pipe geometries, shown in the Part Library.

The COMSOL Multiphysics UI showing the Model Builder with a Loaded Part node highlighted, the corresponding Settings window, and two Graphics windows.
Velocity distribution in a pipe system. The reducer is modeled using a Fluid Flow interface that is connected to the pipes via the Pipe Connection coupling. The fluid-domain geometry is obtained from the part libraries.

Mechanical Piping Analysis Enhancements

For the analysis of pipes, the following updates are available:

  • In the Pipe Mechanics interface, you can now specify correction factors for flexibility and stresses in pipe bends.
  • You can now enter a reduced wall thickness for stress evaluation. This is used, for example, to take a corrosion allowance into account.

Two pipe bend models showing the stress in the Prism color table and displacement in the Rainbow color table.
Pipe bend models showing the stress (top) and displacement magnitude (bottom).

The COMSOL Multiphysics UI showing the Model Builder with a Loaded Part node highlighted, the corresponding Settings window, and two Graphics windows.
Stresses and deformation in a pipe subjected to bending, modeled with both the Solid Mechanics interface and the Pipe Mechanics interface. The solid geometry is obtained from the part libraries.